Piano.



No. 637,069. Patented Nov. l4, I899.

H. BELL.

PIANO.

(Application filed Mar. 3, 1899.] (No Modal.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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Patented Nov. 14, I899.

No. 637,069. H w

J. H. BELL.

PIANO.

(Application filed Mar. 8, 1899.!

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WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HENRY BELL, OF LAWRENOE, KANSAS PIANO.

SPECIFICATION fo ming part of Letters Patent N 0. 637,069, dated November 14, 1899. Application filed March 3,1899. $eria1 No. 707,597. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN HENRY BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, county of Douglas,and State of Kansas, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in pianos, and has for an object to provide a spring between some two parts of the action whereby to produce a perceptible yielding action in transmitting the motion from the key to the hammer.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side View of part of an action, showing the spring applied to the key-rocker. Fig. l is a side view of the rocker having an integral spring. Fig. 1 is a side view showing a jack-rocker arranged to receive the contact of the spring. Fig. 1 is a side view showing the grand-sup port arranged to receive the contact of the spring on the key-rocker. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the spring supported on the key and having a capstan-screw for transmitting the motion to the extension. Fig. 2 is a side view of a key provided with the spring and having the key rocker mounted on the spring. Fig. 2 is a side view of a key pro vided with the spring and having the jack mounted on said spring. Fig. 3 is a side view of a part of an action, showing the spring formed on or secured to the jack-rocker. Fig. 3 is a side view showing a somewhat different form of key-rocker from that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4- is a side view of a part of an action,showing a different form of jack-rocker from that shown in Fig. 3 and showing the jack-rocker provided with the separate spring, Fig. 5 is a side view of a part of an action,

' showing the jack-rocker formed with the integral spring. Fig. 6 is a side view of a part of a-grand-pianoforte action, showing the grand-support as formed with an integral spring. Fig. 7 shows adifferent form of grandaction, known as the Brown grand action, with the spring-underharnmer formed with an integral spring; and Fig. 8 is a side view of a portion ofan action, showing the spring as applied to the key and bearing against the capstan-screw.

Heretofore the only yielding in a pianoforte-action under pressure of the performers fingers has been due to a slight condensation which takes place in the felt, leather, or cloth cushions used at points of contact between the difierent parts or members of the action. These cushions do not yield enough even when new to give to an action sufiioient pliability, and when worn by use they become hard and unyielding. To avoid this objection, I introduce into the construction of a pianoforte-action a spring, which may be made of metal or wood or both metal and wood, or, if desired, of other suitable material, which is fastened to or made in and a part of some member of the action between the keyboard and the hammer and is interposed between two members, which interposed spring will yield perceptibly before transmitting motion or force from one member to the next. This interposed spring is advantageous and important because it improves the touch by making the action more pliable under pressure of the performers fingers. It increases the durability of the instrument by preventing the severe sudden shock which many parts are compelled to bear in the use of the old construction, and it improves the quality of the tone, because in the use of the spring the hammer is moved against the string by a throw instead of a sudden knock.

My invention in its broad aspect contem plates a spring which is interposed between any two parts of the action and operates to transmit the motion from one of such parts to the other, and it should be understood that I regard the key as a part of the action and will so treat it in the following description and claims.

In the drawings I have represented the spring as applied to or formed in various parts of different styles of action; but I do not desire to be limited even to the scope of the invention as illustrated in said drawings, because in modifying the styles and constructions of the actions the construction and arrangement of the spring may be modified to suit.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1 the key A may be of the usual construction, and the key-rocker B is shown as provided with the spring-plate C, which is secured at one end to the key-rocker and has its projecting end arranged to transmit motion to the extension 0, a cushion C being provided to form a seat for the free end of the spring when the latter is flexed.

In Fig. 1 the key-rocker B has the integral spring-arm Z) and a cushion b therefor.

In Fig. 1 the key-rocker is the same as in Fig. 1, as is also its spring C and cushion 0 but instead of the extension O, I provide the jack-rocker C to receive the action of the spring-arm C.

In Fig. 1 the key-rocker is the same as in Fig. 1, and I also transmit action from the spring thereof, such action being exerted in said Fig. 1 against the grand-support C.

In Figs. 2, 2", and 2 the spring is secured to the key A, and such spring A has at its free end ablock A which seats against the cushion a In Fig. 2 the block A has a capstan-screw A which bears against the extension A In Fig. 2 a key-rockerr'i. is mounted on the block A and transmits motion to the extension A while in Fig. 2 the jack A is mounted on the block A Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the spring D is a plate secured to the jackrocker D and is arranged for cont-act by the extension D In Fig. 3-' I show a different form of keyrocker D from that shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. t the spring E is secured to the jack-rocker E in position for contact by the capstan-screw I1 In Fig. 5 the spring is made integral with the jack-rocker by slotting the same, and a felt cushion 6 forms a seat for such spring.

In Fig. 6 I show the grand-support F as slotted to form the spring and as arranged for contact by the capstanscrew F.

In Fig. 7 the spring is formed by slotting the spring under hammer at Gr, the cushion g being provided, as shown.

In Fig. 8 the spring-plate II is secured to the key and'transmits motion to the capstanscrew H.

It will be noticed that throughout the several views felt or similar cushions are provided to form seats for the spring when the latter is bent under stress of operation.

It will be understood that I have illustrated my improvement as applied to the various styles of action. Thus in Fig. 1 I show a portion of a grand or upright pianoforte action, in Fig. 1 a part of an upright action, in Fig. 1 a part of a grand action, in Fig. 2 a part of a grand or upright action, in Fig. 2 a part of a grand or upright action, in Fig. 2 a part of a Brown grand-pianoforte action, in Fig. 8 a part of an upright action, in Fig. 4 a part of an upright action, in Fig. 5 a part of an upright action, in Fig. (5a part of a grand action, in Fig. 7 a part of a Brown grand action, and in Fig. 8 a part of a grand or upright action.

Fig. 3 shows a key-rocker which in itself is no part of the invention, but is shown to illustrate a form which is used on the key of a grand or upright action instead of the extension or the capstan-screw, in which case the jackrocker, Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 or Fig. 5, or the grand-support with spring attached (in a similar manner to Fig. 3 or Fig. 4) or with integral spring,Fig. 6,rests upon said key-rocker.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A piano-action having one of its parts provided with a separate spring-plate secured at one end to such part and arranged at its free end to form a yielding contact between such part and an adjacent one, substantially as set forth.

2. A piano-action having a resilient portion for transmitting the key motion to the hammer, such portion yielding perceptibly in the direction of the transmission of the motion in transmitting such motion whereby to render the action pliable substantially as set forth.

3. A piano-action having a spring plate or arm for transmitting the key motion to the hammer, such plate or arm being extended in a direction approximately at a right angle to the direction of the transmission of the motion and yielding perceptibly in such direction in transmitting the motion substan* tially as set forth.

4-. A piano-action having an interposed spring for transmitting motion between two adjacent parts, such spring yielding perceptibly in the direction of such movement whereby to render the action pliable substantially as set forth.

5. A piano-action having one of its parts provided with a spring for transmitting the key motion, such spring being arranged to yield perceptibly in the direction of such mo-- tion, and a cushion forming a seat for such spring substantially as set forth.

(5. A piano-action having one of its parts provided with a spring plate or arm for transmitting the key motion, such plate or arm be ing fixed at one end and yielding perceptibly at its free end in the direction of the trans mitted motion substantially as set forth.

7. In a piano-action the combination of the key and the key-rocker mounted thereon and provided with a spring plate or arm for transmitting the key motion, fixed at one end with relation to the rocker,extended approximately parallel with the key, and yielding at its free end in a direction at right angles to the di rection of the transmitted motion, substantially as set forth.

8. A piano-action having a spring-plate arranged to transmit the key motion to the hammer, such plate being extended transversely of the direction of the transmitted motion and arranged to yield perceptibly in the direction of such movement substantially as set forth.

9. A piano-action having a resilient portion for transmitting the key motion to the ham IIO iner, such portion being arranged to yield one end and arranged to yieldingly transmit perceptibly in transmitting the motion, submotion to the hammer, substantially as set stantially as set forth. forth.

10. A piano-action having in combination JOHN HENRY BELL. 5 with the hammer and connecting parts a Witnesses:

spring-arm for transmitting the stroke move- FRANK NELSON HAIR, ment to the hammer, such arm being fixed at CARL A. PREYER. 

